Kansas City Current did what it was supposed to do, beating Bay FC 2-0 at PayPal Park and moving to 49 points to still lead the NWSL standings. The club has 16 wins, two draws and one loss. Bay FC, on the other hand, still has its feet firmly planted in 12th place with 17 points. Beyond the score, the game stood out because of the milestones that keep reinforcing Vlatko Andonovski’s season as one of the most consistent in league history.
Michelle Cooper put Kansas City ahead right before halftime, scoring in the 45th minute in a play that captured the momentum of the team. The assist came from defender Hailie Mace, who was celebrating her 100th regular-season appearance. Cooper finished the move with accuracy. Then, already during stoppage time, Temwa Chawinga completed the evening on a counterattack that had been set up by Nichelle Prince. That scoring play represented 12 so far this year and put her back atop the NWSL scoring chart.
The match that cemented historic figures
The win would have been remarkable enough in itself, but the records that accompanied it made it all the more special. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski claimed his 100th regular-season victory, a feat only one other coach has done in the 13-year history of the league. From his first win back in 2013 all the way up to this recent one, he's had 203 games to his name and is still making his presence felt in the competition.
Kansas City also set a new record for nine road wins in one season and matched its own best regular-season mark with 16. On defense, the binge is also impressive: seven in a row without allowing a goal and 632 minutes without a goal allowed, both longest streaks in the league. Those numbers speak volumes about a team that doesn't have to depend solely on offense skill but is strengthened by a back line that is rock-solid and consistent.
The contrast with Bay FC
While Kansas City is amassing success, Bay FC is racking its brains for answers in vain. Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz was the standout on the day with seven saves, preventing the scoreline from mounting. However, the side did not create anything in attack and once more exposed the same problems defensively and at the front.".